William Ramsay (manufacturer)
{{Short description|Australian shoe polish manufacturer (1868–1914)}}
{{about|the Australian shoe polish manufacturer|other people by this name|William Ramsay (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2017}}
{{infobox person
| name = William Ramsay
| birth_name =
| birth_place = Glasgow, Scotland
| birth_date = {{birth-date|6 June 1868}}
| death_place = Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| death_date = {{d-da|4 September 1914|6 June 1868}}
| occupation = Inventor, manufacturer, businessman
| relatives = Sir John Ramsay (brother), Hugh Ramsay (brother), Robin Ramsay (grandson)
}}
William Ramsay (6 June 1868 – 4 September 1914) was a Scottish-born Australian shoe polish manufacturer. In 1906, Ramsay developed "Kiwi" brand shoe polish, today one of the most famous shoe polish brands in the world.
Biography
Ramsay was born on 6 June 1868 in Glasgow, Scotland to Margaret Thomson and her husband, businessman John Ramsay. The family migrated to Melbourne in June 1878.{{cite book| last=Birchall| first=Ida| year=1988| title=Australian Dictionary of Biography|publisher=Melbourne University Press| edition=Volume 11| url=http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/|chapter=Ramsay, Sir John (1872–1944)| chapter-url= http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A110339b.htm|access-date=6 January 2010}} The family prospered in Victoria; Ramsay's father, John, was a die-sinker and engraver in Scotland, however he became a successful real estate broker in his adopted homeland. After he left school, Ramsay set up a successful real estate firm with his father.
After a trip to New Zealand, where he met and married Annie Elizabeth Meek in Oamaru on 2 January 1901, Ramsay established a factory in Carlton in partnership with Hamilton McKellar. From there, Ramsay & McKellar produced disinfectants, polishes, creams, and other products.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}}
In 1904 the factory moved to Elizabeth Street, Melbourne. In 1906, they began producing a new shoe polish under the trademark "Kiwi". The polish, which would become successful in Australia within a few years, was named in honour of Annie Ramsay's New Zealand heritage. In 1912, after McKellar had left the company, Ramsay's father established a branch of Kiwi Polish Co. in London. In 1913 Ramsay visited Europe to promote the brand.
Ramsay died of cancer on 4 September 1914 in the family home at Essendon, in Melbourne. He was survived by his wife, Annie, and their two sons. His father died on 3 March 1924.
Family in the business
Ramsay's wife Annie took over as Chair of Kiwi from 1924 to 1933.
His elder son John (1904-1966) joined the company in 1921, became Managing Director in 1928, and later Chairman.
His younger son, Sir Thomas Meek Ramsay (b.1907) graduated in science at the University of Melbourne{{cite web | title=Family fortunes: The Ramsay family | website=Australian Financial Review | date=12 May 1989 | url=https://www.afr.com/companies/family-fortunes-19890512-kajan | access-date=31 January 2023}} and joined the company as consulting chemist in 1926. In 1956 became Managing Director. He married Alice James,{{cite interview| first=Marr| last=Grounds| title=Interview with Marr Grounds| date= 30 March 2015| interviewer-first= Deborah| interviewer-last= Edwards | url=https://www.datocms-assets.com/42890/1614405141-groundsmarrinterviewv2018-12-11.pdf| format=transcript| series= Art Gallery of New South Wales Archive: Balnaves Foundation Australian Sculpture Archive Project|others=Balnaves Foundation|publisher= Art Gallery of NSW| quote=This is an edited transcript of a recorded interview.}} and their son is actor Robin Ramsay, whom he disowned.{{cite web | title=John Olday's Memoirs: The Australian Period - Bob James | website=Takver's Initiatives | date=2 February 1998 | url=http://www.takver.com/history/aia/aia00025.htm | access-date=31 January 2023}}
Other family
Two of Ramsay's brothers went on to achieve notability: Sir John Ramsay as a surgeon and cricketer, and Hugh Ramsay as an artist. It was largely William's wealth that helped to fund a large art bequest created by John's son James.{{cite web | title=The Ramsay's legacy | website=Philanthropy Australia | url=https://www.philanthropy.org.au/stories-Ramsay-bequest/ | access-date=30 May 2021}}{{cite web | title=Remarkable bequest from arts patrons in Adelaide inspired by legendary philanthropy| website=Philanthropy Australia | date=23 November 2019 | url=https://www.philanthropy.org.au/tools-resources/news/remarkable-bequest-from-arts-patrons-in-adelaide-inspired-by-legendary/ | access-date=30 May 2021}}
References
{{Reflist}}
- "Ramsay, William (1868–1914)", Australian Dictionary of Biography (available [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A110340b.htm online])
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Category:Scottish emigrants to Australia
Category:Businesspeople from Glasgow
Category:20th-century Australian businesspeople
Category:19th-century Australian businesspeople
Category:Businesspeople from Melbourne
Category:19th-century British businesspeople
Category:Deaths from cancer in Victoria (state)